2016 FIAT 500 Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Fiat 500. This model year has 14 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2016 Fiat 500 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
Engine Problems
Considering a 2016 Fiat 500?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Fiat 500. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Fiat 500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 14 most recent complaints
El auto se detuvo sin avisar solo ya no quiso acelerar. Me marcó muchas fallas en las cuales les tomé foto, me tuvieron que remolcar y mi hijo se pegó en la cabeza, por suerte nada grave. Pondre las fotos de los códigos que aparecen. Tuve q ser remolcado hasta ahorita la batería …
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The contact restarted the vehicle and forcefully shifted the transmis…
Passenger side drive axle failed on 2016 500e with only 35650 miles but no longer under warranty. Method of failure: Bolts holding axle to transmission sheered resulting in a loss of power. Car was brought to Orange County Chrysler for repair. Dealer informed me that there wa…
MY VEHICLE WAS T-BONED ON MY DRIVERSIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS GOING 50MPH ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT. I WAS CROSSING THE STREET AT ABOUT 10-15MPH. NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG ENGAGED, SIDE CURTAIN, SEAT, ETC. IT WAS ON A CITY STREET AND THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS SPEEDING.
FIAT 500E VEHICLE BRAKING BEHAVIOR IS UNEXPECTEDLY HARD, SUDDEN, OR UNPREDICTABLE UNTIL THE USER USES AN OBD SCAN TOOL WITH APPROPRIATE DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE- AND INITIATES BRAKE CONTROLLER SENSOR RE-CALIBRATION. THIS OPTION IS FOUND UNDER THE DIAGNOSTIC MENU UNDER: ABS>RENENERATI…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE MANUAL CLUTCH FAILED AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM CHANGING GEARS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE INTO A CEMENT BARRIER TO AVOID TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING THE CONTA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. T…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND SHIFTED ROUGHLY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND FAIL TO IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (NYLE MAXWELL FIAT, 13049 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTI…
CAR SWITCHES INTO NEUTRAL UNEXPECTEDLY CREATING A DANGEROUS INOPERABLE VEHICLE SCENARIO WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES ON THE OPEN ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND. THIS IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE WHICH I HAVE T…
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY WIFE'S CARE HAS REFUSED TO SRMTART WITH NOW ANSWER FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHY, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY FIAT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY STILL SQUEAK WHEN IN REVERSE, AND LATELY IT SAYS THERE IS A TIRE SENSOR THAT IS DAMAGED OR LOW ALONG WITH DRIVE MODE …
THE VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, CAUSING A MINOR ACCIDENT (LITTLE DAMAGE TO BUMPERS OF BOTH VEHICLES). CAR WAS RETURNED HOME (1 MILE AWAY) WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON MOVING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVE…
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION COMPLETELY SNAPPED WITH NO ACCIDENT OR ROAD DEBRIS INVOLVED. THE WHEEL TURNED SIDEWAYS AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE'S ABILITY TO TURN. THE ENGINE THEN GAVE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNING…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WHILE USING THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHI…
THE CAR STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, STARTED TO GIVE ERROR MESSAGES AND TURNED ON ENGINE SERVICE, TRANSMISSION AND PARKING BRAKES LIGHTS. A FEW SECONDS AFTER WE JUST GOT THE MESSAGE: DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE AND THE CAR STOPPED. IT WAS REALLY DANGEROUS AND MY FAMIL…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Fiat 500.
Recalls for 2016 Fiat 500
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Fiat 500. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2016 Fiat 500 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2016 Fiat 500 reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2016 Fiat 500 has 14 NHTSA owner complaints, 3 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (8 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Fiat 500?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (8 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (3 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (3 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Fiat 500?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2016 Fiat 500?▾
The 2016 Fiat 500 has 3 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 14 total NHTSA complaints. 2 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2016 Fiat 500 have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Fiat 500. The largest issue: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2016 Fiat 500?▾
The 2016 Fiat 500 has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Fiat 500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2016 Fiat 500
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.